CLAT

NLU Fees: Total Cost of a 5-Year Law Degree

An NLU law degree costs 12 to 20 lakh across five years. Per-institute figures plus the costs the fee page hides.

โ€ขโ€ข3 min read

NLU Fees: Total Cost of a 5-Year Law Degree
Quick answer

A five-year law degree at an NLU costs roughly โ‚น12โ€“20 lakh in total, tuition and hostel included. NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad sit at the top, at about โ‚น3.5โ€“4 lakh a year; the newer NLUs run closer to โ‚น2โ€“2.5 lakh a year. Add mess, books and personal expenses, and budget 20โ€“25% above the published tuition figure. Most NLUs run need-based fee waivers, and education loans against an NLU seat are routinely sanctioned.

Published fee pages quote tuition per year. Here is the five-year total with the parts they leave out.

Indicative annual cost #

NLUApprox. per year (tuition + hostel)Approx. 5-year total
NLSIU Bengaluruโ‚น3.5โ€“4.0 Lโ‚น18โ€“20 L
NALSAR Hyderabadโ‚น3.0โ€“3.5 Lโ‚น16โ€“18 L
WBNUJS Kolkataโ‚น2.8โ€“3.2 Lโ‚น15โ€“17 L
NLU Jodhpurโ‚น3.0โ€“3.5 Lโ‚น16โ€“18 L
GNLU Gandhinagarโ‚น2.8โ€“3.2 Lโ‚น15โ€“17 L
NLIU Bhopalโ‚น2.5โ€“3.0 Lโ‚น13โ€“15 L
RMLNLU Lucknow / HNLU Raipurโ‚น2.2โ€“2.8 Lโ‚น12โ€“14 L
Newer NLUsโ‚น2.0โ€“2.5 Lโ‚น11โ€“13 L

What the tuition figure hides #

CostTypical
Mess chargesโ‚น40,000โ€“70,000 / year
Books and printingโ‚น10,000โ€“20,000 / year
Moots, conferences, travelโ‚น15,000โ€“50,000 / year
Laptop, one-timeโ‚น50,000โ€“90,000

Mooting is not optional in practice at the top NLUs โ€” it is how you build a rรฉsumรฉ โ€” and the travel costs are real.

๐Ÿ’ก Tips
  • Confirm whether the published figure includes hostel. Several NLUs quote tuition alone.
  • Most NLUs run need-based fee concessions assessed on family income; NLSIU and NALSAR have well-established schemes. Apply after admission.
  • Fees typically rise a few percent each year, so multiplying year one by five understates the total.
  • Against these numbers: recruitment at the top NLUs has seen first-year law-firm packages substantially above the total cost of the degree. At newer NLUs, check the current placement report rather than the NLU label.

NLU fees โ€” frequently asked questions

What is the total fee for a 5-year law degree at an NLU?
Roughly 12 to 20 lakh rupees including tuition and hostel across five years. NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad are the most expensive; newer NLUs are considerably lower.
Which is the most expensive NLU?
NLSIU Bengaluru, at roughly 3.5 to 4 lakh a year including hostel, followed closely by NALSAR Hyderabad and NLU Jodhpur.
Is hostel included in NLU fees?
It varies. Several NLUs quote tuition alone and charge hostel and mess separately, which can add 1 lakh or more a year. Check the fee breakdown on the specific NLU page.
Are scholarships available at NLUs?
Yes. Most NLUs run need-based fee concessions assessed on family income, alongside merit awards and external scholarships. Applications are made after admission.
Can I get an education loan for an NLU?
Yes. Banks routinely sanction education loans against NLU admission letters, and many NLUs publish lists of lenders that work with their students.

Coaching costs before the NLU fee โ€” compared side by side.

Compare CLAT coaching โ†’

Disclaimer: Fee figures are indicative for recent cycles and change annually. Verify on the official NLU fee pages.

Keep reading

Stay Updated.
Stay Ahead.

Subscribe to your exam feed and get the latest notifications, application forms, admit cards and exam updates โ€” right on time.

Subscribe Now